15 Best Free and Open Source Software I've Found for Linux (2023)

It's time to bring out the best in you10 Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)Programs I found this year. Some of these programs might not be new as they weren't released for the first time this year, but they are new to me and I find them useful.

[ You may also like this:25 Free Open Source Apps I Found This Year]

For that reason, I want to share a short review, hoping you'll find it helpful as well.

1. Atom-Editor

Without a doubt this is my first choice. Maybe it's because I'm not only a sysadmin but also a developer. when i found thisLinux-TexteditorPowered by GitHub, I just love it.

AtomIt is easily extensible with additional packages that add new features, including smart code autocompletion for a variety of languages, FTP capabilities, and integrated browser preview.

In addition, it allows you to work directly withgitEGitHubfrom its interface, which by the way is highly customizable. Atom Editor has cross-platform editing, so you can program not only on Linux, but also on Windows and macOS.

2. NextCloud

Described as "a safe home for all your data",NextCloudwas started as a separate project by one of OwnCloud's early employees.

Although there were some sparks between him and thatown cloudcommunity,NextCloudseems here to stay and competeown cloudas a private cloud solution to access and share your files, calendar, contacts, etc.office documents.

Use dozens of third-party apps available in the official appapp store, you can equip yourNexcloudInstance with new features and turn it into a powerful collaboration environment that takes care of your personal data.

3. Celeste

Because even sysadmins and developers need a little distraction, which you can usecelestia(a free 3D astronomy program) to navigate the universe.

celestiaserves as a 3D planetarium that perfectly simulates various celestial objects whose position and movement are accurately calculated in real time. It also contains a large database of stars, galaxies, planets, asteroids, comets and other celestial bodies.

Unlike other planetarium software,celestiaallows you to travel across the entire solar system and galaxy, not just the earth's surface. To infinity and beyond!

4. FreeRDP

if yourSystem administration tasksinclude administrationWindows server via Remote Desktop Protocol(RDP),FreeRDPis a tool you might want to try.

It is described by its developers as an RDP client for Windows Terminal Services. The project is hosted on GitHub and released under the Apache license, so feel free to contribute to it if you like.

5. Fly spray

Again, I might be a little biased here. If you're looking for a bug tracking and project management solution, look no further.fly spray, a web-based tool developed byApachehas exactly what you need. And don't just take my word for it: evenArchLinuxGenericNameUsedfly sprayforbug tracking.

fly sprayis a lightweight bug tracking system written in PHP that runs on any operating system and focuses on a very intuitive design that allows you to work on multiple projects at the same time.

They bearMySQLorPostgreSQLNameas a database server and offers voting functions, email notifications (requires separate email server installation and configuration), and optional single sign-on (SSO) with a Facebook or Google account.

6. GNUCash

If you've used a spreadsheet to keep track of your personal, family, or business finances, it might be time to consider a more suitable solution, such asGNUCash.

With this accounting software from FOSS, you can keep track of your bank accounts, expenses and income and use this data to create customized and comprehensive reports. Its user-friendly interface is a plus for the sound accounting principles that GnuCash uses under the hood.

The official website contains a detailed FAQ section, the application's manual and a tutorial guide. These materials make it easy to learn how to use GnuCash. Also, you can subscribe to the mailing lists if you need help or encounter problems with GnuCash.

Like many other open source projects,GnuCashNameis developed, maintained and translated entirely by volunteers and enthusiasts.

7. Logical DOC

Both are available as Enterprise (paid) and Community Edition,LogischDOCis an award-winning web-based document management system (DMS). As such, it aims to provide a high-quality method for exchanging business documents and records cost-effectively and securely.

Furthermore, LogicalDOC allows you to control access to these resources through security functions and easily track changes through version control. LogicalDOC can be installed on a single computer in standalone mode, on a dedicated server as a shared service or as a Software as a Service (SaaS) solution.

LogischDOCit has content processing and information management capabilities that are best suited for business and business, but are also great for personal use.

8. Mixer

If you are interested in game development,Video edition, or 3D modeling, I'm sure you've heard of this tool. If you're considering any of these activities as a hobby or a career change and haven't heard of them yetMixer, it's definitely time to give it a try.

As a FOSS solution, it is not inferior to commercial tools. Furthermore, Blender is cross-platform, which means that you can run it not only on Linux, but also on macOS and Windows.

below standardsMixerFeatures include rendering, 3D modeling, digital sculpting, video editing, and simulation tools.

9. DVD Styler

dvd styleris a cross-platform DVD authoring tool by FOSS that allows you to create beautiful and professional DVDs with your video and image files.

As such, DVDStyler allows you to create your own interactive menus or choose from built-in menus, add subtitles and audio files, and use video files in various formats. In addition, you can create photo slideshows and place graphic objects such as buttons, text, images, etc.

What's more, this great tool integrates with your DVD burner to burn disc from the same application.

10. Operating system query

As the name indicates,Operating system queryprovides access to real-time system information in the form of tables and events that can be queried using SQL-like syntax through an interactive query console.

ComOsqueryyou can scan your system to perform intrusion detection, diagnose a problem, or simply generate a report on its operation - all at the touch of a button with a single tool.

If you have at least a basic understanding of SQL, it's very easy to get details about the operating system using OSQuery's built-in tables.

OSQuery works flawlessly on Windows, macOS, CentOS and all other Linux operating systems released since 2011 and requires no dependencies.

Need another reason to convince you to try OSQuery? It was developed and maintained by the people of Facebook.

11. KeyPass

I deal with so many programs, websites and services that I often forget my passwords. No doubt this happens to other Linux users as well so here is the solution –KeePass. It is a free and open source password manager that helps you manage and keep your passwords securely.

KeePassstores all your passwords in a single database locked with a master key. Because of this, you must remember a single master key to access the database.

All passwords are encrypted using the most secure encryption algorithms. In fact,KeePassis compatible withadvanced encryption standard(AES, Rijndael) and the Twofish algorithm.

Alternative,KeePassallows you to use key files instead of master keys. You just need to keep the key file with you at all times. You can carry it with you on a floppy disk or USB stick, for example.

12. PDF-Mix-Tool

I don't edit PDF files very often, but when I do, I usually usePDF-Mix-Tool, a simple and lightweight open source program that lets you perform common PDF editing operations like file merging and page rotation.

In addition, you can also usePDF-Mix-Toolto create booklets, delete and add pages to a PDF file, extract pages, and even edit PDF document information.

This tool is good for basic editing operations. If you need a more complex and powerful program, take a look atThe Best PDF Editors for Linux.

13. mail spring

When it comes to email management, it's one of my favorite tools.Mailspring, an open-source, cross-platform email client that lets you create a single inbox for all your email accounts.

Mailspringis compatible with all major email providers including Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Office 365, Yahoo! etc., and supports IMAP/SMTP.

Mailspring's user interface is visually appealing and there are some cool themes. It also comes with a signature editor that lets you create custom signatures, even with images and social media links, which looks great.

14. OpenTodoList

If you are working on multiple projects and have a lot of tasks to do at the same time, you definitely need to give this a try.OpenTodoList, a simple note-taking app that helps you stay organized.

This tool organizes your information into libraries. A library can contain locally stored to-do lists, notes, and pictures.

More importantly, you can sync your information with NextCloud, ownCloud, other WebDAV services, or any third-party sync tool of your choice. With OpenTodoList, you can easily keep track of your tasks and increase your productivity.

15. OFFICE ONLY

Many Linux users are missing out on a decentMicrosoft Office-Alternativefor years. In my opinion, one of the best replacements for the MS Office suite isOFFICE ONLY, an open source project centered around office software and productivity tools.

OFFICE ONLYoffers a self-hosted office suite calledDocumentsit is afree desktop editorfor Linux, Windows and macOS. Both online and desktop editors are based on the same engine and allow you to create and collaborate on documents, presentations, spreadsheets, etc.fillable formsReal time.

OOFFICE ONLYsuite is fully compatible with DOCX, XLXS and PPTX files and also allows you to open and view PDF and DjVu files. Conversion to DOCX is also available.

OFFICE ONLYcomes with integration apps for the most popular file sharing and document management platforms, allowing you to embed online editors for real-time document editing and co-authoringnext cloud, cloud itself,Moodle,WordPress,SeafileName, etc

Summary

In this article, I've given a quick rundown of the top 15 FOSS programs I've come across this year. Are there any other programs you'd like us to review or suggest as part of a future article? Let us know using the form below and we'll be happy to look into it.